Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/keep)

[ClassyRocks]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I love marquises! Please let me know what you decide ! I am interested.

Is there a way to send messages on here?

Sorry, I don't think there is. Some people communicate outside of PS via LoupeTroupe, ebay, etc. I don't have a listing on any of though sites though.

 

[GemFever]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I'm thinking along similar lines as Circe. Might you regret it if you sell it? Is there another diamond that you've been pining over? Say, if you always wanted a 2-3ct ideal round brilliant in the near-colorless range, then that's your answer -- sell the warm marquise and get what you always wanted. But if you weren't really planning to get anything else anyway, then keep the marquise and enjoy this extremely unique stone. If you keep it, I would go for the recut. I think it could potentially be a stunning stone (not like it isn't right now!). What did Brian Gavin say about the color if the stone gets recut?

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I love marquises! Please let me know what you decide ! I am interested.

Is there a way to send messages on here?

Sorry, I don't think there is. Some people communicate outside of PS via LoupeTroupe, ebay, etc. I don't have a listing on any of though sites though.

Hmm, am I allowed to post a link to my etsy page so you can contact me there?

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

GemFever, he thought it would face up whiter. I wish I could remember how he phrased it. I think it was something about the new cut dispersing the light better and making it appear brighter?

 

[GemFever]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Not here, but if you go to the "Pre-Loved" subforum you could make a listing there and link your Etsy.

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Thank you! I'll try to work I that tomorrow then.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Was the cost really $4k for the recut? I know its a per carat price, but that is very steep.

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Was the cost really $4k for the recut? I know its a per carat price, but that is very steep.

It's $350/ct but he said $3500-$4000 because of the difficulty and the fact that a lot of it would have to be hand cut because its too large for the machine.

 

[Hera]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Honestly, I think I would sell it to someone who would wear the ring more often. I don't think I would want to put more money into it. Then, I would buy a diamond that I did feel comfortable wearing. I wouldn't feel about it either, someone's going to love it!

 

[vintagelover229]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I'd keep it.

I mean-it's an heirloom and who else in the world has a 10 carat diamond ring like that?

If you like it but just don't feel comfortable wearing it due to the size I would still keep it. I think recutting it would be a shame since it's such a unique stone and you're putting more money into it when with 4k you can get a decent sized OEC (if you want the preloved market you can find something well over a carat for that price) in a lower color and wear that daily while this one for special occasions.

I highly doubt you'll ever run across something like this again. It's a very special stone and I think perhaps someday you can pass it onto and surprise someone else with a lovely trinket too.

A pendant is a great idea!

 

[partgypsy]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I could tell you what I would do.
If it was a stone, especially one I saw my grandmother wear and associated with her, I'd find a way to wear it (pendant).
If it was genuinely something I was not comfortable in wearing, then I would sell it. Someone out there may want the stone exactly as it is, with the original cut and shape. Let the person who is truly interested in the stone buy and decide what to do with it.

The recut is iffy. you need to be honest with yourself if you really want a recut pair of that size, color, etc. If you are trying to make something it is not, and would prefer something else it may be a waste to go recutting. I'd only do this if you were really excited by this prospect.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Well, if it was me... I would recut and keep it. Frankly it is just SO unusual to have such a large diamond. Once the cut was better -- and if it could be cut into a squat chubby marquise -- then I would wear it and social attitudes be damned! I think YOU would feel quite differently about it as well if it was cut to really shine and sparkly and scintillate, with great contrast zones. At present, while an amazing heirloom, I am betting it has a rather glassy appearance. Not at all the way a diamond could/should look! So I would likely go for the recut and then wear the crap out of it. Every day in every way! Rock it.

 

[satbeachbill]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

What happens to the rest of the diamond if the recut ends up being 7.5 or 8.0 carats? I don't know anything about recutting, but certainly there would be something usable with what's left. Offer Brian this: He has it recut and can keep the "scraps" for the total payment of the entire job. You'd have a beatiful stone, no out of pocket, and they would probably have something left they could recut into a nice second or third stone to sell. A win/win for everybody.

 

[kenny]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

What happens to the rest of the diamond if the recut ends up being 7.5 or 8.0 carats? I don't know anything about recutting, but certainly there would be something usable with what's left. Offer Brian this: He has it recut and can keep the "scraps" for the total payment of the entire job. You'd have a beatiful stone, no out of pocket, and they would probably have something left they could recut into a nice second or third stone to sell. A win/win for everybody.

I think in this case it will be converted to dust on a polishing wheel.

 

[IE_Princess]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

If it was me, I'd do the recut, insure it, and wear it as much as possible. It's a family heirloom, and for me, that would mean that it was mine for now, but not forever, if that makes sense.

When my grandmother gave me one of her diamond rings she suggested that I have it reset, but not that I sell it to get something I wanted. She had purchased that diamond for herself and she loved it. I wasn't wearing it in the original setting so I set it in a temporary setting, and now that I know how I want to set it I am pursuing a recut with BGD. Of course, I'm not talking about a 10 CT, just something on the order of 1 CT, but I think the idea is similar (except for the worry of wearing something really big in terms of safety). Recutting and resetting this stone is the only way that I will end up wearing it. It doesn't do anyone any good sitting in the bank vault. But I can't sell it, as I don't really think of it as being mine to sell. At some point I might have a granddaughter who will wear it (which would be my grandmother's great-great granddaughter), and if not, I have a niece to pass it down to (she is a great-granddaughter).

I feel even more strongly about this as my uncle inherited and sold all the rest of her jewelry.

 

[Venti25]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I feel even more strongly about this as my uncle inherited and sold all the rest of her jewelry.

I'd feel exactly the same. I can't ever imagine selling my mothers or my grandmother's jewellery I'd either convert it to something else to wear as is like someone suggested or have it recut and wear it normally. It's wonderful to have something like that in the family.

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I’m definitely the most sentimental person in the family which is probably why I haven’t sold it already. lol I’ve never even seen my grandmother wear it. She bought it from a friend to help her out and stuck it in a drawer. So it’s been living in storage for most of it’s life! Now I’m back to thinking that I should send it to GIA to get it certified. Maybe I can find a private party that would love it for what it is.

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I love marquises! Please let me know what you decide ! I am interested.

Hey ClassyRocks, I just posted a ring in the PreLoved section. There’s a link to my ebay account on there. If you’d like to talk to me about this big ol’ marquis just send me a question through that listing.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I’m definitely the most sentimental person in the family which is probably why I haven’t sold it already. lol I’ve never even seen my grandmother wear it. She bought it from a friend to help her out and stuck it in a drawer. So it’s been living in storage for most of it’s life!

That being the case...

I think you can do what pleases you! I love the unique faceting on the stone as it is. If it's underperforming anyway and not blinding anyone, I think you can wear it without too much worry.

Second choice for me would be to have it re-cut and savor owning a honking big, spectacular, marquise diamond ring. I know you don't think you'd wear it much, but... I think if you give yourself the chance, you'll grow into it! After all, door 3 (a spectacular 2.5C round) is not for the faint of heart either.

My 3rd choice would be to sell it and use the proceeds for a spectacular round or cushion diamond.

So many wonderful options! I'd have a hard time making up my mind too!

 

[blingymo]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

What did Brian say about the inclusion vs. laser drilling?

Personally, I would either convert it to a pendant or recut, but I could never sell a 10 ct diamond that landed in my lap for free. Then again, the phrase "dripping in diamonds" is very appealing to me!

 

[soxfan]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I am waiting to see if it's actually laser drilled before offering up an opinion!

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Update! I got an appraisal today from an independent appraiser that BGD recommended. We didn’t take it apart so the appraisal was done with the diamond still in the ring. O color, I1 clarity on the marquise, H/I color VVS2/VS1 clarity on the baguettes. It’s an all natural, old cut diamond, no treatments or anything. Since we couldn’t weigh the diamond we were conservative on the weight and by measurement it looks like it’s at least 9.7ct but possibly larger. They baguettes are .26ct each. The insurance value would be around $90k.

I did get a chance to look at some diamonds in real life while I was in the building. I wanted to see what I would be happy with if I did decide to sell it. So now I know that a 2ct round is definitely too small and a 3.5ct round is probably plenty big. So I still don’t know. If I could sell it to a private party I might be able to get enough to buy another ring that I would love so much more and wear regularly but if I sold it to a dealer I’m not so sure. We’ll see!

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I had a brain storm and I think I may have come up with my solution! I have to see if it will be possible but I’m going to try to reuse the ring and replace the marquise setting with a round setting and just trade the diamond out. That way I get to keep the actual ring and actually enjoy it. Hopefully it will work! I stopped into Shaftel Diamonds on our way out of the building when I got the appraisal and he was so nice and has a huge inventory in house in the range I was looking for. So hopefully I’ll have time to go back by there this week and really look to see if he has the perfect diamond and can do the ring alteration.

Part of me can’t get this 4.2ct Old European out of my head though! But I’d have to send it to Grace so she would look at my diamond in person before we could even talk about a deal and shipping it scares the hell out of me. I just send my 1ct engagement diamond to GIA and waiting for it to be delivered was torture. Do you guys think it would look funny in a 4 prong setting because of how unsymmetrical is? http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...amond/23037854_rz37Lb#!i=1853402944&k=F86GMFG

 

[Acinom]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

I had a brain storm and I think I may have come up with my solution! I have to see if it will be possible but I’m going to try to reuse the ring and replace the marquise setting with a round setting and just trade the diamond out. That way I get to keep the actual ring and actually enjoy it. Hopefully it will work! I stopped into Shaftel Diamonds on our way out of the building when I got the appraisal and he was so nice and has a huge inventory in house in the range I was looking for. So hopefully I’ll have time to go back by there this week and really look to see if he has the perfect diamond and can do the ring alteration.

Part of me can’t get this 4.2ct Old European out of my head though! But I’d have to send it to Grace so she would look at my diamond in person before we could even talk about a deal and shipping it scares the hell out of me. I just send my 1ct engagement diamond to GIA and waiting for it to be delivered was torture. Do you guys think it would look funny in a 4 prong setting because of how unsymmetrical is? http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...amond/23037854_rz37Lb#!i=1853402944&k=F86GMFG

It's a good thing that you are putting a lot of thought in this process. It is no easy decision...
I love the OEC, but I would look into the inclusions. Is it eye clean?
The photo's are really nice!!! I love the warmth and impressive size!

Not sure whether the symmetry influences how the stone looks if it is set in a 4 prong settin, but more expetienced PSers will surely chime in.

 

[GreenBling]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Not a cutter nor expert... Whats the possibility of making a round and 2 x trillion/half moon out of it?

 

[TheGeckoLady]

Re: Need expert help with a very large diamond (value/sell/k

Not a cutter nor expert... Whats the possibility of making a round and 2 x trillion/half moon out of it?

I don’t think it would work because of the location and size of the inclusions.